Kyle Wilber's Long Road to The NFL

The Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Kyle Wilber, 113th overall, in the 2012 NFL draft with visions of turning the former Wake Forest linebacker into a formidable NFL caliber pass-rusher.

The Cowboys were impressed with his physical attributes (6’4” 249 Lbs.), but more impressive is Wilber’s courage and strong character. In a pre-draft interview, Wilber was asked what he would be doing if he weren’t playing football. “I really want to do something with kids,” Wilber said.

“Growing up I had a rough childhood. I was born in Orlando and me and mother moved to Chicago. I never knew my biological father,” said Wilber. “When I was 6 or 7 my mother left me and my sister to my aunt and then my step father worked out a deal with my aunt to take custody of me. My mother came back into my life about a year or two later and I was back and forth with my stepfather and my mother.”

“Then my stepfather wanted me to go down to Orlando to live with my grandmother, that was when I was in seventh grade.” Said Wilber. “For a year I was living with my grandmother and in the eighth grade my grandmother died. Then in the ninth grade, my mother committed suicide. My stepfather moved down to Orlando and I’ve been living with him ever since.”

“I never wanted to see my children live a lifestyle like me,” said Wilber. “I’ve been blessed with my stepfather, he’s been the real stabilizing force in my life.”

When Jason Garrett took over as the head coach of the Cowboys, he said he wanted mentally strong, resilient and hard working players to be the make up of his team. Few if any match that mold more than Wilber.

Unfortunately, Wilber had been sidelined with a broken thumb, but he’s been cleared by team doctors and will make his pro debut Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Wilber’s contributions will come mostly on special teams, but special teams or not it’s safe to say I’ll be rooting for him.